Postsurgical change of mandibular position in patients following Le Fort I osteotomy.

Mandibular displacement during and following maxillary osteotomy was observed. Cephalometric data obtained from radiographs produced before, immediately after, and at a minimum of 6 months after were analyzed. The displacement of the maxilla and of the mandible during and after surgery was studied, and the predictive value of maxillary displacement on the changes occurring in the mandibular region was evaluated by a stepwise regression analysis. The results indicated that as the maxilla was displaced superiorly, the mandible also displaced anterosuperiorly without significant relapse. The rotation and the vertical displacement of the maxilla during the Le Fort I osteotomy accounted for two thirds of the total mandibular change. Vertical displacement of the maxilla and mandible were significantly correlated, indicating that mandibular displacement and rotation can be predicted from maxillary displacement.